Elderly woman in pink blazer working on a laptop at a white table in a modern workspace.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has issued a powerful new report, Lifelong Learning in the Reskilling Era: From Luxury to Necessity, highlighting the urgent need to upskill an ageing workforce amid rapid changes driven by AI, automation and the green transition.

Striking findings show only 47 % of workers aged 55+ rate their job as offering strong skills development—compared to 73 % of those aged 18–24—while employer training spend has dropped 27 % since 2011.

The CIPD calls for flexible, mid‑career learning pathways, training vouchers, and modular credentials to support longer working lives and social equity.

Read the full report: Lifelong Learning in the Reskilling Era: From Luxury to Necessity